Meetings on State of the Union Priorities Show Tepid Reception for Asian Deal

WASHINGTON—White House officials crafting President Barack Obama's State of the Union address and his agenda for the year are meeting resistance from congressional Democrats on the thorny issue of free trade.

Top aides to Mr. Obama met with Democrats on Capitol Hill last week to discuss policy priorities and what the lawmakers would like included in the Jan. 28 speech that could prove helpful to those facing re-election in November. Both sides seemed to agree the president should focus heavily on bread-and-butter themes...